Sonochemical Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of Metal Hydroxide and Carbonate (M:Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba) Nanoparticles

In this work Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃, SrCO₃ and BaCO₃ nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple sonochemical reaction at room temperature. Nanoparticles were synthesized via a surfactant-free reaction solvent water. Nanostructures materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photocatalytic behavior of nanoparticles was evaluated using the degradation of a methyl orange aqueous solution under ultraviolet light irradiation. The results show that metal hydroxide and metal carbonate nanoparticles are promising materials with excellent performance in photocatalytic applications.     

OXIDATIVE DEPROTECTION OF TRIMETHYLSILYL ETHERS WITH HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINEBROMINE SUPPORTED ONTO SILICA GEL UNDER MICROWAVE IRRADIATION IN SOLVENTLESS SYSTEM

Hexamethylenetetramine-bromine supported onto[3pc] silica gel rapidly converts trimethylsilyl ethers to their corresponding carbonyl compounds under microwave irradiation in solventless system.     

The effects of binaural spectral resolution mismatch on Mandarin speech perception in simulated electric hearing

This study assessed the effects of binaural spectral resolution mismatch on the intelligibility of Mandarin speech in noise using bilateral cochlear implant simulations. Noise-vocoded Mandarin speech, corrupted by speech-shaped noise at 0 and 5?dB signal-to-noise ratios, were presented unilaterally or bilaterally to normal-hearing listeners with mismatched spectral resolution between ears. Significant binaural benefits for Mandarin speech recognition were observed only with matched spectral resolution between ears. In addition, the performance of tone identification was more robust to noise than that of sentence recognition, suggesting factors other than tone identification might account more for the degraded sentence recognition in noise.     

Some Extensions of PSL(2, p 2) are Uniquely Determined by Their Complex Group Algebras

In Tong-Viet's, 2012 work, the following question arose: Question. Which groups can be uniquely determined by the structure of their complex group algebras?

It is proved here that some simple groups of Lie type are determined by the structure of their complex group algebras. Let p be an odd prime number and S = PSL(2, p ²). In this paper, we prove that, if M is a finite group such that S < M < Aut(S), M = ?₂ × PSL(2, p ²) or M = SL(2, p ²), then M is uniquely determined by its order and some information about its character degrees. Let X ₁(G) be the set of all irreducible complex character degrees of G counting multiplicities. As a consequence of our results, we prove that, if G is a finite group such that X ₁(G) = X ₁(M), then G ? M. This implies that M is uniquely determined by the structure of its complex group algebra.     

A robust parameter design for multi-response problems

Most real world search and optimization problems naturally involve multiple responses. In this paper we investigate a multiple response problem within desirability function framework and try to determine values of input variables that achieve a target value for each response through three meta-heuristic algorithms such as genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA) and tabu search (TS). Each algorithm has some parameters that need to be accurately calibrated to ensure the best performance. For this purpose, a robust calibration is applied to the parameters by means of Taguchi method. The computational results of these three algorithms are compared against each others. The superior performance of SA over TS and TS over GA is inferred from the obtained results in various situations.     

Dual-Mode Sorption of Inorganic Acids in Polybenzimidazole (PBI) Membrane

The sorption behaviors of sulfuric, perchloric, and phosphoric acids in polybenzimidazole membranes have been investigated. The results of sorption isotherms are consistent with the general form of a dual-mode sorption isotherm. The dual-mode sorption parameters were found using a least-squares program by fitting experimental data to a dual-mode equation. Results indicate a correlation between permeant properties like acidity, size, and the affinity constant in Langmuir-mode sorption species. Moreover, the results show that the size of the permeants has the dominant effect on Henry's constant. The obtained results for , site saturation constant, in Langmuir-mode sorption in the case of perchloric and phosphoric acids, reveals that the two acid molecules interact with two N?H basic groups in the polybenzimidazole repeat units. But in the case of sulfuric acid, it is shown that sulfuric acid neutralizes some of the basic groups in the polymer by its strong second hydrogen and the obtained value for was 1.25.     

Electric field in two-dimensional complex plasma crystal:Simulated lattices

We focus on molecular dynamics simulated two-dimensional complex plasma crystals. We use rigid walls as a confinement force and produce square and rectangular crystals. We report various types of two-row crystals. The narrow and long crystals are likely to be used as wigglers; therefore, we simulate such crystals. Also, we analyze the electric fields of simulated crystals. A bit change in lattice parameters can change the internal structures of crystals and their electric fields notably. These parameters are the number of grains, grains charge, length, and width of the crystal. With the help of electric fields, we show the details of crystal structures.     

Incorporation of silica nanoparticles and polyurethane into hybrid composites for increase of char residue

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Effect of different chain extenders, silica nanoparticle loading, and using sol–gel method on the thermal properties of polyurethane (PU) hybrid...     

Preparation,characterization, and assessment of cytotoxicity,antioxidant, antibacterial,antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing properties of titanium nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam leaves

In recent decades, nanotechnology is growing rapidly owing to its widespread application in science and industry. The aim of the experiment was chemical characterization and evaluation of cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing activities of titanium nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam leaves (TiNPs@Ziziphora). These nanoparticles were characterized by fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–visible spectroscopy. The synthesized TiNPs@Ziziphora had great cell viability dose‐dependently (Investigating the effect of the plant on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cell line) and revealed this method was nontoxic. Then, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging test was done to assess the antioxidant properties, which indicated similar antioxidant potentials for TiNPs@Ziziphora and butylated hydroxytoluene. Agar diffusion tests were applied to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were specified by macro‐broth dilution assay. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software (Duncan post‐hoc test). TiNPs@Ziziphora indicated higher antibacterial and antifungal effects than all standard antibiotics (p ≤ 0.01). Also, TiNPs@Ziziphora inhibited the growth of all bacteria at 2‐16 mg/ml concentrations and removed them at 2‐32 mg/ml concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In case of antifungal properties of TiNPs@Ziziphora, they prevented the growth of all fungi at 2‐8 mg/ml concentrations and destroyed them at 2‐16 mg/ml concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In vivo experiment, after creating the cutaneous wound, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: untreated control, treatment with Eucerin basal ointment, treatment with 3% tetracycline ointment, treatment with 0.2% TiO₂ ointment, treatment with 0.2% Z. clinopodioides ointment, and treatment with 0.2% TiNPs@Ziziphora ointment. These groups were treated for 10 days. For histopathological and biochemical analysis of the healing trend, a 3 × 3 cm section was prepared from all dermal thicknesses at day 10. Use of TiNPs@Ziziphora ointment in the treatment groups substantially reduced (p ≤ 0.01) the wound area, total cells, neutrophil, and lymphocyte and remarkably raised (p ≤ 0.01) the wound contracture, hydroxyl proline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte, and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate compared to other groups. In conclusion, the results revealed the useful non‐cytotoxic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing effects of TiNPs@Ziziphora.